Peak apple season is upon us folks. This sweet and savory Curried Couscous with Apples and Fennel is a delicious combo of flavors and textures. It’s a perfect salad for lunch, dinner or your weekly meal prep!
Where are all my curry fans?
I’ve been a fan like forever! My mother used to make a chicken curry dish way back in the day and my mother-in-law used to make a curry cream cheese appetizer with chutney, both of which had me hooked!
Today’s Curried Couscous with Apples and Fennel is the perfect little fall salad.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
It’s a wonderful combo of flavors and textures. It’s got pearl couscous, sauteed fennel, crispy apples, sweet currants, crunchy pistachios and pecans, and it’s all tossed in a spicy curry vinaigrette. This salad is nice and hearty, takes less than 30 minutes to make, and it’s full of healthy ingredients. Curry fans, get ready, because you’re going to love this one.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- olive oil
- low-sodium chicken broth
- pearl couscous
- fennel bulb
- Envy apple
- currants
- pistachios
- pecans
- parsley
- coarse kosher salt and pepper
- apple cider vinegar
- curry powder
- garlic
- olive oil
Step-By-Step Instructions
The first step is to cook your couscous. You’ll heat some olive oil in a skillet and then add your couscous and cook, stirring often until lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes. Then you’ll add the broth and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10-12 minutes until the broth has evaporated. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl to cool to room temperature. Fluff to separate grains.
The second step is to add 1 Tbsp. olive oil to a skillet and cook fennel for 8-10 minutes, until softened, stirring often.
The third step is to add the fennel, apples, currants, pecans and pistachios to your couscous and toss.
The last step is to make your vinaigrette. You’ll combine apple cider vinegar, curry powder, salt, pepper and garlic in a blender and blend to combine. While the blender is running, slowly add the olive oil. Pour the dressing over the couscous and toss to combine. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
This salad has so much flavor, I just know you’ll enjoy it. The spicy vinaigrette goes absolutely perfectly with the salad ingredients and takes just minutes to make.
Grab yourself a nice glass of chilled Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc to serve alongside and enjoy!
Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below.
A Few Cook’s Notes for Curried Couscous with Apples and Fennel
I try to grab a large apple for this salad. If you can’t get a large one, use two small.
You would think currants would be near the raisins at your market. Sometimes they are and sometimes they’re near the specialty nuts and dried fruits section.
Curried Couscous with Apples and Fennel
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 cups pearl couscous
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 fennel bulb, quartered and medium chopped
- 1 large Envy apple, cored and diced
- 1/2 cup currants
- 1/3 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/3 cup pistachios, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped
Curry Vinaigrette
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. curry powder
- 1 tsp. coarse kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil over medium-high heat. Add couscous and cook, stirring often until lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10-12 minutes until the broth has evaporated. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl to cool to room temperature. Fluff to separate grains.
- While couscous is cooking, add 1 Tbsp. olive oil to a skillet and cook fennel for 8-10 minutes, until softened, stirring often.
- Add fennel, apples, currants, pecans and pistachios to couscous. Toss.
- Make vinaigrette: In a blender, combine apple cider vinegar, curry powder, salt, pepper and garlic and blend to combine. While the blender is running, slowly add the olive oil. Pour the dressing over the couscous and toss to combine. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
This is my kind of meal, especially during these lingering days of winter! Mother Nature has one week to turn things around! In the meantime, I’ll happily enjoy some hearty bowls of this wonderful dish!
Oh, you’d love this one Annie! I shared with my friend Janice, who just loved it! Happy Monday!
This salad is right up my alley. I love that Isreali couscous and all the freshness topped with curry dressing. I would love having this in the fridge for a week of healthy lunches!
You definitely need to try this one Karen! It’s perfect for lunch all week long!
This lovely, hearty bowl is just what I need right now! Loving all the flavours together. Curry and apple are so lovely together :)
Yes, I love the curry apple combo too Jennifer! Happy Monday!
I’m not feeling spring yet because of the crappy windy cold weather we’ve been having. But you know what? I’m going to pretend I feel it and hopefully it’ll happen sooner :) And daylight savings time? Boy, that stuff is ROUGH. Who would have thought that one hour would throw me off so much?! Now, this recipe! Does this sound and look good! Loving the combo of curry with the sweet apple and fennel. So much flavour!! I would make a batch of this and eat all week for lunch and I bet it’s also lovely paired with fish or chicken for dinner. Pinning! Have a wonderful week, my friend, and cheers to spring coming soon! XO
Thanks so much for pinning Dawn! You’re gonna love this one! Have a great week! XO
It snowed here yesterday, which I actually enjoyed because it was gone and melted in no time. But I’m SO ready for spring! I saw on the news the snow storm headed y’alls way! Yikes!!!! I’ll be praying it is not as bad as they are predicting!! I say make a huge batch of this couscous and bundle up, Mary Ann! I was just riffling through my pantry yesterday for the bag of couscous, but I never ended up making it… clearly I had an ESP moment because I’m glad I saved it so I could make this!!! Looks amazing, girlfriend! LOVE the curry with the apples and fennel! I could totally just eat this on repeat! Pinned! Cheers!
Go grab some couscous Chey, because you’re going to love this one! I can never get enough curry. It’s one of my favorite spices! Happy Monday! Hope all is well. XO
LOVE couscous and I’m obsessed with that Curry Vinaigrette!
Me too Jennifer! The curry vinaigrette is wonderful!
Love the combination of flavors happening here and even those it’s been 85 degrees here lately, this sounds so comforting!
It’s a delicious recipe Matt. The curry/apple/fennel combo is awesome!
This meal is a perfect transitional meal while we all wait for spring. I’m with you, I can’t wait!
Couscous is one of my favorite grains – its so endlessly versatile! Love the sweet and savory vibes you have going on in this dish.
Thanks Nicole! I hope you give it a try!
agree Naomi! The colors perk me up for sure!
It’s sunny and warm here in Santa Cruz . What a good cook you are Mary Ann, to dress up your couscous with such a flavorful vinaigrette. It looks delicious.
If you’re a curry fan, you’re going to love this one Gerlinde! So make textures and flavors!
Love this salad, Mary Ann – could eat it for days! My mom is supposed to be flying out tomorrow to visit but the snow storm may mess up her flight – so I’m feeling your storm blues too. Fingers crossed the storm is not as bad as they say.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for her. We’re still expected to get 8-12 inches! YIKES!
I’m so with you, we’re getting 16-24 and I want to throw a tantrum like a small child. I want spring not a blizzard! Ugh!! Anyway- loving how this marries the two seasons with apples and spring fennel! Betting each bite is lovely!
Oh no Gina!! I want spring too@ The sooner, the better! This one’s a winner. I hope you give it a try!
I love couscous and it’s going to be 76 here today! This is just what I’m craving for lunch :).
Me too Laura! Wow, 76?? Lucky you!
I love couscous and love such meals! Apple and fennel together is such a great combination in this salad! I love how your pictures showcase all the ingredients! Beautiful MaryAnn!
Thanks so much Amisha! This recipes is a total favorite! Healthy, colorful with a little bit of sweet and savory! Happy Monday!
This looks absolutely incredible! Can’t wait to try!
Thanks Alice! Enjoy!
Loving this!1 The apples are such a nice touch!
Thanks Tieghan! Yes, the apples are delicious in this dish.
You had me at Fennel, Mary Ann. I’ve been craving Springy things too! We’ve warmed up just a bit in the lowlands, but the mountains are still getting hammered with snow! I love this salad and all the delicious ingredients including the currants and pecans. Delicious work, Mary Ann!
Thanks Traci! You need to try this one. It’s all kinds of delicious! Stay warm. We’re getting clobbered today with snow and sleet!
I am anxiously awaiting spring! It’s coming…it just seems to be taking a while this year. This couscous salad sounds very delicious! Love the apples and fennel! Great combination!
Yes it does Kathy! Counting the days!
What a delightful combination, Maryanne! The apples and curry pair together so wonderfully and love the addition of fennel as well. I really like the larger pearled couscous too, but I always seem to forget about using them. This would make such a great salad for packing in punches or picnics. :) (can you tell I’m already dreaming about summer?)
You’re not alone Emily. I’m dreaming about summer too! I hope you give this couscous a try. It’s delicious!
I am TOTALLY not feeling spring yet – we got buried in the blizzard – 14 inches! But happily the power held, which is all I ask for. This beauty of a veggie dish is going to get me in the mood though – pinning!
This couscous dish is one of my favorites Kate! I love the curry apple combo. Hope you enjoy it too!
What a great combo…. the spices and fruit combination are spectacular. My kids love apples, but don’t love curry. We are a try’in and this is another great recipe to push those little buggers into acquiring a bit more of an international palate. Gonna try it!
I love this one Cindy because I just love curry. I hope they come around because this is one of my faves!
This is so up my alley and I’d eat the entire bowl. Right now. Really.
I LOVE this one Kevin. I’m a huge curry fan, so I’d challenge you on who could eat it faster!
Made this tonight. Absolutely delicious. I used cashews instead of pistachios and toasted them and the pecans
Loved the crunch of the nuts and crisp pops of sweetness of the apples
Definitely company worthy and holiday worthy
Served it with roast pork and Brussels sprouts
A+ and I will be making this again
Yay!! So happy you enjoyed this one Brian! I’ve always been a fan of curry so this is a favorite of mine too!
I realized you barely have any reviews! Want you to know I make this every year for my holiday dinner I host. It’s always a hit! Thank you
Thanks so much Cassie! This is one of my favorites too! Happy Holidays! XO